Category: Name Change

Stop Using AI

(At least with your lawyer.)

AI is very useful but…

The allure of AI is undeniable. I present to lawyers—locally and nationally—about the expanding role AI will play in the legal profession.

But when something feels “too good to be true,” it usually is.

And while we’re still in the early days of the AI boom, we already know many of the pitfalls. Here’s one you may not be considering:

Using AI in your communications with your lawyer may be costing you more money than you think.

The pattern we’re seeing

More and more, clients are communicating with us through AI.

We can usually tell right away: the traditional font, the bolded subject headers, the tidy bullet points—and the tone. And in these emails (the length of which tends to be unmanageable), clients use AI to “explain” the law to us.

The problem is: these AI platforms always (and we do mean, always) steer clients in the wrong direction.

Most of the time, the “law” cited is just plain wrong.

For example, I asked ChatGPT to list the custody factors in Pennsylvania. It missed them.

Not most of them—all of them.

It created new custody factors, ignored the real factors, and tried to tell me I was wrong.

Why AI gets it wrong (even when it sounds right)

AI tools (including ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and many others) do not know the law.

That’s a dangerous combination in a legal case where every move has a consequence.

The hidden cost: you pay for the cleanup

Attorneys spend three years in law school learning the law—but, more importantly, learning how to analyze it, synthesize it, and use their education and skills to represent you. They spend the rest of their careers sharpening those skills, building relationships, and learning how to navigate the legal system.

There is so much more to the practice of law than just the words in the Rules. The practice of law involves understanding the courts and our clients—and knowing how to strategize and plan to our clients’ advantage.

The documents AI drafts are nearly always wrong: they cite imaginary or incorrect rules, and they summarize the law incorrectly.

When this happens, we must spend hours:

AI isn’t saving you time.  It’s creating more work—and more costs—for you.

A better way to use AI (without letting it misdirect you)

We understand why clients turn to AI.

Legal jargon is confusing. The process can feel mysterious and frustrating. Continuing to find ways to conserve costs and better understand the legal process is commendable.

However, relying on AI as “truth”—or using it to guide your attorney’s strategy—is not advisable.

The costs are high:

If you’re using AI, tell your lawyer

Be open with your lawyer about your use of AI.

We already know you’re using it.

Help us understand what you’ve read and what concerns you—so we can better help you.

Talk to us so we can enhance how we represent you, using our experience, our education, and the relationships we have built with other lawyers, the court—and with you.

Human and robotic hands shaking above the words "Stopping AI" to illustrate why AI legal advice should not replace advice from an experienced Pennsylvania family law attorney.

Changing Your Last Name After Divorce

Many women want to return to their maiden name after they divorce. While it’s not difficult to do, it’s important to do it correctly to avoid problems in the future.

In Pennsylvania, you may resume a prior surname at any time during your divorce proceeding by filing a written notice with the Prothonotary of the county in which your divorce was filed or in which your divorce decree was entered. This notice provides the Prothonotary with the caption and docket number of your divorce. If you got divorced outside of Pennsylvania, you must also attach your divorce decree to the notice.

After you provide this notice and obtain your Name Change Order, you may change other legal documents. For example, if you legally changed your name and obtained a corrected Social Security card when you married, you will need to update it again to reflect your maiden name. To do this, bring a certified copy of the Name Change Order to your local Social Security Office. They will take care of the remaining steps. Failing to obtain a corrected Social Security card may prevent your wages from being correctly accounted for on your Social Security record and this may lower your future Social Security benefits. Failing to obtain an updated card may also cause delays when you file your taxes.

You will also need to update or obtain a REAL ID. Beginning May 3, 2023, Pennsylvanians will be required to have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings. When obtaining a REAL ID, you will need to provide proof of all legal name changes if your current full legal name is different than what is shown on your proof of identity document.  To prove your name change, you may use original or certified copies of your marriage certificate, Name Change Order, or your divorce decree.

Divorce isn’t the only reason you may wish to change your name, and your new name might not be the only change you wish to make on important, official documents. There are also different rules for changing your name after divorce depending on your citizenship status. Whether you want to change your name because of your divorce, or to make it match your gender identity, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Jennifer J. Riley can help. Give us a call and find out how we can help you Protect What Matters Most!   

Spouses’ Election to Keep Married Name

In the United States, your surname may give you a sense of self and of belonging. For women who have changed their names upon marriage, a subsequent divorce raises the question:  should I take back my own last name?  There are several reasons some women may prefer to keep their married surname after a divorce. For example, she might wish to have the same last name as the children, or there may be professional reasons that she identifies with the name, preferring not to start building a professional reputation from scratch. For example, Victoria Beckham rose to fame in the Spice Girls empire at the same time as her marriage to David Beckham. When someone mentions Victoria Beckham, nearly everyone knows her.  However, if someone were to call her by her maiden name, Victoria Adams, few would know her.  .

You may also opt to keep your married name for simpler reasons, such as it being easier to pronounce than your maiden name or because you remember the hassles of changing your name (including getting a new passport, driver’s license, and updating the Social Security Administration as well as all financial institutions).  Many men ask us if it is possible to require their ex-wives to change their last names to their maiden names. It is not possible to require anyone to change back to a prior surname.  This is only the choice of the person carrying the name, even if it was not her birth name.

For many women, the choice to change their last names back to their prior surname is an important and liberating step in the divorce process.  For some women, taking back their identify from before the marriage is critical to the divorce process.  Taking someone’s last name upon marriage is a symbol of unity, and many wish to sever the legal and emotional connections with the former spouse upon the divorce. Please note that name changes upon divorce are not automatic.  If you wish to change your last name, you may do so as early as the day after you file for divorce.  You can also do so after the divorce is granted.  We can help you through the process and answer any questions you have regarding this important decision.